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"I was captivated by the dance of the brush on the canvas and the smell of oil paints. With each day that passed, I became more absorbed in painting."

Born on 1 July 1973, Julio Cesar Lira Salazar paints under the name Rivero. "I chose to sign my paintings as Rivero in honor of my grandfather," says the artist. "Though I never met him, I read his personal journals and admire him greatly. He is constantly on my mind."

Rivero's love for painting began at a very young age, yet he always felt there was something more to learn. A friend introduced Rivero to Azorin, a celebrated Peruvian artist (featured in Novica), who welcomed him in his studio. "I consider that day as my initiation into the world of arts because Azorin taught me the art of painting. I was captivated by the dance of the brush on the canvas and the smell of oil paints. With each day that passed, I became more absorbed in painting."

Rivero attended Peru's Catholic University to study sculpture, but had to drop out due to lack of time and financial resources. This did not dissuade him, and Rivero continued on his path towards becoming an artist, self-taught to a large extent.

The greatest challenge he has had to overcome is to control his asthma, because the doctors had advised him against painting. However, his passion for painting was stronger, and now this condition is no longer a problem for him.

When asked to describe his art, Rivero replies, "To me, art is life itself, it's the air that I breathe. The only way that I can express how I feel is by letting my brush run freely through the canvas, experimenting with new techniques. My motto is mens videt, mens audit, cetera surda et coeca, which means 'the mind sees, the mind listens, all else is deaf and blind.'"

Marveled by Abraham Ortelius's cartographic excellence, Rivero charts the United States' southeast coast in this oil on canvas. Florida and Virginia are clearly identified as early Spanish colonies,... Read More

Voluptuous and inviting, clay cántaros or (jars) cluster on fields of terracotta. Abstract motifs in the background imitate the rounded forms as they pose enticingly. Used by pre-Hispanic man to store... Read More

Bathing the western coasts of the American continent, the Pacific Ocean posed an alluring yet frightening challenge to 16th century navigators. The Pacific also inspires Peruvian artist Rivero to... Read More